After seeing what Shihouin Yoruichi had shown, Aiyan didn't plan to learn it seriously, but he didn't mind watching and listening either.
If someone was trying to teach him, then with his pride in his own Hakuda, he would absolutely reject it.
After all, the reason he had requested leave and skipped Shiba Isshin's dedicated Hakuda class wasn't due to laziness—but pride. He believed that he could create unmatched physical arts just through self-study.
But if it was called an exchange, then that changed things.
Besides, if Shihouin Yoruichi's self-esteem got too hurt, it would make it harder to make her his.
So Aiyan sat through it all, listening as Shihouin Yoruichi poured out everything—foundational footwork, advanced Shunpo, and all the Hakuda techniques passed down by the Shihouin family.
[Your Hakuda, after analyzing and reorganizing Shihouin Yoruichi's techniques, has successfully created: "Hakuda · Shinigami Six Styles Version 1.0"—suitable for both spirit bodies and Reiatsu.]
[Shinigami Six Styles 1.0: Fist Spear, Razor, Swift Axe, Golden Body, Cloud Walk, Mirage.]
As expected.
Hakuda could not accept being taught by anyone. But if it was called a technique exchange, then it didn't count.
Especially after Aiyan's original Six Styles already beat Shihouin Yoruichi, Hakuda naturally took the new information and evolved it again—on the spot—into the refined and more complete Shinigami Six Styles 1.0.
Unlike the original version, which only used physical strength and could not be amplified with Reiatsu...
This new 1.0 version could be used by spirit bodies or enhanced with Reiatsu, making the power several times stronger.
After all...
The techniques in the Four Pillars—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō—were all built around Reiatsu as their core.
While it's possible to use those moves without Reiatsu, their strength would be greatly weakened.
The same applied to Shihouin Yoruichi's Hakuda and Shunpo—they relied heavily on Reiatsu to unleash their full potential.
"In terms of creativity and development, Hakuda is definitely the most talented among Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō!"
Seeing his Hakuda develop not one, but two complete combat systems in a single day, Aiyan couldn't help but sigh with pride.
Though the 1.0 version was just an upgrade of the original Six Styles, the difference wasn't only in name or Reiatsu compatibility. It was a total transformation from the inside out.
For example: compare Cloud Walk and Moonwalk.
The original Moonwalk used repeated air-stepping to generate bursts of lift and stay in the air.
But the 1.0 version of Cloud Walk used Reiatsu as a foundation—like walking on clouds. It allowed flight, gliding, and total air control.
One was about rapid movement.
The other—true aerial combat.
Totally different.
"Aiyan."
"What's on your mind?"
"Is it something in my Shihouin footwork or Hakuda that you didn't understand?"
Yoruichi tilted her head, confused by Aiyan's sudden silence.
"No," Aiyan replied casually. "Didn't you say earlier that the only flaw in the original Six Styles is that it couldn't channel Reiatsu to boost power?"
"I was just... figuring it out."
"...And?"
A familiar, almost dreadful feeling rose in Yoruichi's chest. She already had a bad hunch.
"I listened to your explanation about Shihouin footwork and Shunpo," Aiyan said plainly, "and I got inspired."
"So, I upgraded them. Created the new version: Shinigami Six Styles 1.0."
"Start!"
Yoruichi gritted her teeth.
After being around Aiyan and witnessing his monstrous talent again and again, she didn't even need to question the truth of his words.
In fact, the word she now feared most...
Was "created."
Every time Aiyan "created" something, it meant that everything she had just done was completely overshadowed—again.
Today, she felt like she'd handed her pride over to be crushed.
She suddenly thought of Hirako Shinji—and felt a strange sense of pity.
She had only wanted to teach Aiyan Hakuda and got emotionally steamrolled in return.
So what about Hirako Shinji, who had foolishly agreed to fight Aiyan in public?
"Are you okay?" Aiyan asked, noticing her dazed expression.
"I'm fine," Yoruichi muttered. "I just couldn't help but think… Hirako Shinji is really brave."
"Without a few hundred years of brain damage, I can't imagine anyone volunteering to fight someone like you."
The pity in her beautiful golden eyes deepened.
A month?
Not even necessary.
She realized that just ten days at the Shin'ō Academy would be enough for Aiyan to completely destroy Hirako Shinji's confidence.
Aiyan, for his part, didn't respond—he just smiled faintly.
Hirako Shinji?
He had long forgotten that name.
After all, who would seriously remember an ant?
All that mattered... was deciding that ant's fate when the time came.
Time passed in the blink of an eye.
A full month had passed since Aiyan had enrolled in the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy.
After requesting leave from the Hakuda class—and after Shihouin Yoruichi quietly informed Shiba Isshin about Aiyan's insane talent—Shiba had never called him to attend again.
In fact, Shiba didn't just allow him to skip—he granted Aiyan over twenty days of free training, letting him cultivate on his own.
Clearly...
Shiba had made up his mind.
Trying to train a once-in-a-millennium genius by dragging him through regular lessons would only slow him down.
Zanjutsu.
Kidō.
Shunpo.
Each time Aiyan took a class, it was once—and never again. Shiba just let him take the reins after that.
And then came today.
The day Aiyan submitted his request for early graduation.
Naturally, this drew attention—not just from Shiba Isshin—but also from the upper-level instructors, lieutenants, and even a captain who had heard the rumors: Gōtenbashi Ginjirō.
"Did he just apply for early graduation after one month?"
"That's too fast!"
"No one's ever done that in over two thousand years!"
"But... the requirements for the First Class are crazy high. You need elite-level mastery across multiple disciplines."
"Only one month of training—can he really pass?!"
"I think he can. I heard he beat a Gotei captain in a single kendo class and nailed him to the wall of the dojo."
"Hiss—! What? If that's true... then early graduation might actually make sense."
...
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